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Search tags: The-Edge-of-Never
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review 2020-05-03 16:53
Well researched pleasant read
The wall at the edge of the world - Damion Hunter

A wall at the edge of the World follows the career of Postumus Justinius Corvus, army surgeon, assigned to the sixth legion Victrix at Eburacum (present day York) not far from Hadrian's wall. This part of Britain at that time was subject to constant harassment by marauding tribes, none more worthy of the name than the infamous Picts. As Corvus is of dual nationality (his mother from England and his father from Rome/Italy) his loyalties can at times be somewhat ambiguous. His family still manage and harvest a large estate in Northern Britain and he has befriended a number of English tribesmen in particular Lord Galt, leader of the king’s household.

 

The second part of the novel involves skirmishes with warring tribes and a romantic element with the delectable Claudia Silva. In conclusion the author uses her impressive knowledge of the Roman Empire at that time to create an enjoyable but in no way outstanding read. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

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review 2020-05-03 00:10
Here I go again to...'The Edge of the World'...
The Edge of the World - Roy Calley,Garrett Leigh

I knew when I read this book back in January of this year that if there was an audio release, I'd be revisiting Shay and Ollie as they tour around the United Kingdom. That I would be doing it at a time such as this...well, who knew certainly not I. 

 

'The Edge of the World' is  a story that truly highlights the connection between past, present and future as we follow Shay and Ollie. As Shay's band tours the country showcasing their talents. Ollie joins them to take Shay on a journey through time to show him a past he never knew he had, all the while Ollie tries to ignore a past that rules his present and won't let go of him.

 

For as much as I loved reading the book and believe me...I loved this book. The audio book grabbed on to me even more than I'd thought possible. Partially because this was a story that simply resonated with me and partially because Dan Calley took a wonderful story and made it even better. He created the vocal imagery that the characters were lacking when I first read this one. Sometimes I can give them voices in my mind when I'm reading a story but sometimes even my imagination needs some help.

 

Other than the fact that I enjoyed the audiobook immensely, nothings really changed from how I felt when I wrote my original review so I'm going to borrow some words from the past (code talk for 'from my original review) to explain how I feel about Shay and Ollie...

Amidst the chaos and pandemonium that is the life of a band whose star is on the rise as they begin a tour that’s intended to push them over the top, Shay and Ollie struggle to get to know each other as their feelings deepen and if they could both just be in the same place a the same time things might be a little easier…but, we don’t always get what we want sometimes we just have to work with what we’re given.

I was smitten with both of these men from the very beginning. In spite of his quickly rising star Shay’s character held such a laid back, down to earth almost humble feeling that not liking him really just wasn’t an option. While Ollie seemed to be a little more reserved and shall we say crusty around the edges it wasn’t enough to cover the genuine concern and kindness that he had for others.

I loved the interaction between them as they got to know each other the balance of kindness and caring was equally challenged with moments of conflict and angst that held my interest solidly from beginning to end and while the secondary characters and background filled out the story nicely it was always Shay and Ollie who held my interest.

So here I am like millions of others in a self-imposed isolation and travelling not only all over this world but to other worlds, to the past, the present and sometimes even the future without ever leaving my home. Whether it's audio books, ebooks or paper books they tell wonderful stories and take us to amazing places and I plan on going to "The Edge of the World" again one day...it's a trip worth taking.

 

*************************

An audio book of 'The Edge of the World' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

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review 2020-03-30 17:15
Rough Edge (Tannen Boys #2) by Lauren Landish
Rough Edge (Tannen Boys #2) - Lauren Landish

 

 

To follow their dreams Brody and Erica have to break a few hearts, but their sense of pride may just cost them their own. Rough Edge is more than a steamy romance. Hidden beneath the tempting romance and heartbreaking regrets are life lessons. Landish floods a heart with overpowering emotion while celebrating the human spirit. Erica and Brody are dreamers. Though life has knocked them down, it hasn't stop them from finding the strength to keep pushing forward. Against the backdrop of disappointment is an inspirational tale of hope and family interwoven with the healing power of love. Rough Edge makes quite the impression.

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review 2020-03-18 11:45
At the Water's Edge
At the Water's Edge: A Novel - Sara Gruen

by Sara Gruen

 

The prologue starts out with a sad situation. A young woman, Mairi, has lost her baby to stillbirth, and soon after learns that her husband, a soldier in WWII, is missing, presumed dead. How this ties in with the story to come will take some time to become clear, but the reveal was worth the wait.

 

The story mostly concerns a group of Americans: Maddie, our pov character, and her husband Ellis, plus their friend Hank. Mention is also made of Violet, Hank's girlfriend, but she is left behind as the other three cross the ocean in 1945 when WWII makes that a foolish idea, to go to Scotland to hunt for the Loch Ness Monster. Hank and Ellis are both unable to sign up with the military, one for color blindness and the other with flat feet.

 

Culture clash is immediate. Hank and Ellis come from well-off families and expect 'service' and luxury where the down-to-earth people one finds in a Scottish Inn expect people to look after themselves at the very least and apparently healthy young men are looked at askance if they are still civilians. The men expect 'service staff' to put their clothes away for them in their rooms. Maddie catches on and puts her own things away.

 

I grew to like Maddie. Her backstory comes out over the course of the story and her willingness and ability to adapt to the very different culture appealed to my sympathies. Her husband, on the other hand, is the epitome of the 'ugly American'. A spoiled brat who routinely lies to his wife and treats the locals as if he is somehow better than they are. As much as there was social stigma over divorce in those days, I was thinking halfway through that Maddie really needed to get this ill-mannered beast out of her life.

 

One of the things I really like about this author is that she does her research. The fine details of life in that time and place lend a sense of reality. Little things like hearing about a fever going around in Inverness or looking at the newspaper and seeing stories of decimated towns next to adverts for cold cream, showing an attitude of 'life goes on' amidst the horrors of war on home soil.

 

The acknowledgements at the end show that she interviewed several people about their first hand experiences, so details like the reaction when a postman brings a telegram, a sure sign that someone has died, ring true. Also the subtle implication that women tended to fall for whatever men were available at a time when most of the young, healthy men were away in battle add to the reality of a 1945 setting.

 

A lot of fast action comes into the last 20% or so of the book and I found it hard to put down. The emotional roller coaster left me with a book hangover I won't soon forget. There was some very descriptive sex, but somehow it didn't feel like porn. Sara Gruen has definitely made it onto my favorite authors list and I will be reading more of her books in future.

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review 2020-02-09 23:00
Cutting Edge (Power Plays #6)
Cutting Edge - Tom Clancy,Martin Greenberg,Jerome Preisler

In equatorial Africa as a small nation attempts to become a leader in the region through its offshore resources and becoming headquarters to information revolution for all of Africa, but who is in charge is suddenly up in the air.  Cutting Edge is the sixth book of Tom Clancy’s Power Plays series written by Jerome Preisler, as Roger Gordian’s UpLink International takes over a pan-African fiberoptic network he unexpectedly finds himself against Harlan DeVane who’s attacked his company and tried to kill him already.

 

Offshore of Gabon two divers for a French technology company die after sabotaged by Harlan DeVane’s associates which leads to the company selling their fiberoptic network to UpLink and getting government approval even though DeVane bribed numerous politicians to stop it.  Pete Nimec leads the Sword team as UpLink moves into the country as DeVane plans to strike at UpLink and Gordian himself.  DeVane begins to harass UpLink’s buildup including an assault on a convoy, but as a distraction for his main strike against Gordian.  DeVane activates his mercenary agent who activates his sleeper sell in the United States that stalks the Gordian family before finding a target, his daughter Julia.  The DeVane’s crew abducts Julia from the greyhound rescue shelter she’s been volunteering at, killing one of the owners and her infant daughter in the process.  After the police visit UpLink headquarters, Tom Ricci begins investigating her kidnapping skirting around the police to get evidence that quickly leads to the conclusion it’s the same man who he faced off in Ukraine and Ontario.  DeVane sends Gordian a ransom message to dissolve his company immediately or his daughter dies, however before Gordian decides to do so Ricci finds where Julia is being kept and leads a Sword team that rescues her and kills the mercenary that’s trouble them for years.  In the end, DeVane slinks away from Gabon.

 

Preisler emphasize characters and technology throughout the book, not at the expense the plot but the narrative was quickly transitioned from one time period to another until towards the end during Julia’s kidnapping.  Though Preisler does a great job at exploring DeVane’s, Nimec’s, Ricci’s, and the mercenary’s characters in this book and keeps the reader hooked; yet the departures into technological explanations bogged the book down at times.  This book was longer than the previous installment which resulted in a overall better book.

 

Cutting Edge is a return to the very good standard that Preisler established in this series after the substandard previous installment.  With DeVane exit at the end of the book, the best subplot of the three of the last four books is finished with a bit of satisfaction for the reader that’s invested in the reading the series.

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